Tropical disturbance in Caribbean likely to become Hurricane Rafael this week
Forecasters expect a tropical disturbance in the western Caribbean Sea to develop into Tropical Storm Rafael by Monday. This system may strengthen into a hurricane by midweek as it moves north, prompting tropical storm warnings for Jamaica and hurricane watches for the Cayman Islands. The disturbance, designated as Potential Tropical Cyclone Eighteen, is likely to encounter favorable conditions for development. Additional watches and warnings may be issued for western Cuba as the storm approaches, with flooding and strong winds anticipated for affected areas. If it forms as expected, Rafael will be the seventeenth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. The season, which runs through November 30, has already seen significant damage, with Hurricane Helene causing tens of billions in losses.